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“There's a guy over at the bar,” Edwina nudged into her side, “Who hasn't stopped looking at you since we got here.”
Kate nearly choked on her drink in surprise at Edwina's suggestive tone. Often when the two sisters went out together Edwina got the most attention with her natural soft beauty and inner light that drew men to her like moths to a flame. Kate on the other hand tended to scare men off with her prickly disposition and blunt opinion. Which is why Kate didn't come out tonight with the intention of grabbing a man's attention.
Tonight was meant to be a respite from working on her thesis. For majority of the year she'd spent her days in the library buried in art history texts and analyzing what felt like nearly every impressionist painting in existence. She wanted to spend time with her sister, have a few pints, then head home to crash into bed.
“He's rather good looking,” Edwina nudged into her side again with a giggle.
“Knowing your taste in men I have my doubts,” Kate said archly while taking another drag of her drink.
“I was basing it off your taste in men,” Edwina scowled at her. “Come on take a look. He's nearly directly behind you, little to the left.”
Kate let out a sigh but she still followed through to appease her sister.
Plus with all this pushing Kate couldn't help wonder what this mystery admirer looked like.
Slowly, not wanting to draw attention to herself, Kate turned to her left. Through the crowd of locals and fellow university students Kate immediately located the man Edwina saw.
First, there could be no doubt that he was staring directly at her. Heat began to crawl up her neck at how blatantly he looked only at her. He didn't even shy away at being caught looking. Secondly, the man was indeed painfully her type.
Kate had been so caught up looking at him she barely noticed his head tilting and raising his glass up in greeting.
Kate felt twelve years old again caught mooning at her crush during class.
She nearly fell out of her chair she spun around so fast, face ablaze with embarrassment.
Her mortification only grew when she saw the Cheshire grin on Edwina's face.
“Go over and chat him up,” Edwina nudged into her side. “He's clearly interested.”
“Absolutely not,” Kate said wishing a hole would open underneath and swallow her up.
“Kaaaaate,” Edwina now turned to pleading.
Kate spared her sister one look to see Edwina had turned her big brown eyes up at her. Usually Kate found ways to dodge her sister's match making side but lately Edwina had gotten it into her head that Kate needed a boyfriend. If she refused to go talk to this man then Edwina would never let her hear the end of it.
“Oh alright,” Kate relented. “But if I go talk to him you're not allowed to set me up on anymore blind dates for a month at least.”
Edwina let out a squeal of delight that Kate couldn't deny madeher feel a little better about the ridiculous situation.
Kate grabbed her glass and downed the rest of it in one go. Gathering up her nerves and reminding herself that the worst thing that could happen is being turned down, she got up and headed towards the bar.
Stomach filled with nerves Kate weaved her way through the other patrons. The last time she'd been in this position she'd been thirteen crossing the school courtyard to ask her crush to a dance. She'd been turn down that day and since then Kate hesitated approaching men. Especially since she caught on that most were more interested in Edwina than her.
Still she couldn't stop the flicker of hope as the mystery man only had eyes for her.
“Hi there,” Kate said as she slid into the stool next to him.
“Hello,” The man's lips ticked up in a smile. “This is a nice surprise.”
“Oh really?” Kate turned in the stool in order to fully face him.
“Absolutely,” His dark eyes seemed to greedily take her in. “I've been trying to gather the courage to approach you all evening.”
Kate didn't really know how to respond to that blatant declaration. Seeing him up close only made matter worse. He was painfully her type with his high cheekbones and sharp jawline. A lean build now overly thick but Kate had a feeling underneath his navy blue jumped she'd find some serious corded muscles. His skin unblemished and quite pale as though he hadn't seen the sun in a long time. Dark brown hair neatly combed back matched his dark eyes that were staring directly at her.
Kate found herself becoming flushed under his intense gaze.
Then he smiled at her and Kate knew she was done for.
“I'm sorry do I know you?” Kate asked while her mind raced to place him.
“Not yet,” He held out his hand towards her. “My name is Anthony.”
“Kate,” She answered, slipping her hand into his. She noticed his long fingers and how his hand nearly encased her smaller one, she also noticed how how cold his skin felt. But she told himself he probably just came in from cold autumn night outside.
“I don't think I've seen you here before,” Kate tried to keep her composure.
“I'm recently back in town,” He answered smoothly. “My family is from the area. You?”
“Here for school along with my sister,” Kate turned to point to where she left Edwina.”Who is right over-”
Kate cut herself off as she realized Edwina was no longer sitting at their table. In fact she had already gotten up with her coat halfway on, waving at Kate enthusiastically as she made her exit.
“You mean the girl practically running out of here?” The man turned back to look at Kate in amusement.
“Yes that's the one,” Kate couldn't hide her annoyance.
“I guess you're stuck with me,” Anthony gave her another of those charming smiles.
Kate found it odd Anthony barely spared her sister a second glance. Not many men could take their eyes off Edwina. Instead he seemed very focused on her.
She didn't have time to think on it as Anthony started to lean in towards her.
“Can I buy the next round,” Anthony entreated. “It's been a while since I've had the company of a beautiful woman.”
Kate rolled her eyes at him laying it on thick but inwardly she couldn't help but be pleased.
“One round,” She told him firmly.
Anthony's answering smile had an edge of triumph that looking back Kate realized should of worried her.
!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Hours later Kate found herself being escorted home by Anthony. She lost track of time talking with Anthony about anything and everything. It shocked her how at ease she felt around him. Usually it took her longer to let down her walls when meeting someone new. She'd like to blame it on a pretty face but Anthony turned out to be as intelligent as he was charming.
Then he insisted on walking her home, a streak of old fashioned manners that Kate normally would roll her eyes at. Somehow she found herself being rather charmed at him being worried about her safety walking the streets alone at night.
She didn't have the heart to tell him she didn't really need a protector. But that would entail revealing her lineage and she didn't think that conversation would be appropriate for a first date.
If this could be considered a first date.
It had rained briefly while they were in the pub making orange lights from street lamps reflected on the streets slick with rainwater. The air had grown colder leaving Kate to wrap her arms around herself to keep warm. Anthony had offered his jacket but Kate refused not wanting the walk home to turn into a full blown romantic comedy.
“Do you live nearby?” Kate asked as they walked side by side down the stone streets.
“My family owns a estate a few mile out of town,” Anthony replied easily.
“An estate? I should of pegged you for someone posh,” Kate teased. “You probably come from a long line of stuffy nosed lords.”
“My family and I have been around for a long time,” Anthony had a strange, almost amused, look in his eye. “Sometimes it feels like forever.”
A cold chill travelled up Kate's spine, that she knew couldn't be blamed on the late autumn night. Her instincts were trying to tell her something, trying to warn her.
Then Anthony would give her a heart warming smile and Kate found it harder to think straight.
Luckily her apartment was in sight, in five minutes she'll be inside and could start thinking clearly. Where she wouldn't be distracted by a pair of dark eyes and how they made her feel heat spread through her whole body. It had been too long since a boy affected her this much.
“What about your family?” Anthony asked. “You haven't talked much about them.”
Kate took pause to mentally edit what she couldn't tell him. She could count on one the people who knew the truth about her family. Before she could speak a car appeared along the narrow streets. Not something Kate would normally take notice of but the puddles of water made it a different story. In the split second Kate noticed the spray of water about to hit her she felt a pair of arms wrap around her waist to pull her back.
The two of them stumbled back, and the wind got knocked out of Kate's lungs. After she caught her breath Kate realized how close they ended up. She found herself pressed up against Anthony's chest with her hands ended up gripping his shoulders. His arms still wrapped sung around her waist their faces inches apart.
If Kate found herself losing her senses before then she was in even deeper trouble now.
This close, their breaths mingling together, Kate's heart threatened to beat out of her chest. She wondered if Anthony could head the loud rapid beating by the way his eyes dipped down to chest before flicking back up to meet her eyes. She didn't know how long the two of them stared at each other but time seemed to slow down when Anthony moved in closer.
The press of his lips against hers took away her breath a second time. Kate's hands seemed to move on their own as they threaded themselves in his dark locks. A soft bite her lower lip had Anthony deepening the kiss. His hands moved to her hips to pull her in even closer.
Anthony eventually pulled away but his lips never left her skin. Her knees nearly giving out when he playfully bit the sensitive skin behind her ear. Kate couldn't stop the soft gasp escape her when she felt his warm breath against her neck, his teeth softly scraping along the skin there.
Kate should of been swooning. Anthony's touches did make her feel like she was on fire but something felt off. Alarm bells rang out loud in clear in her mind. The growing sense of danger overtaking her desire.
As she felt him bite down Kate reflectively made her next move.
Anthony let out a deep groan but it had nothing to do with pleasure.
He pushed away from her and staggered backwards. Kate held her ground as she watched his hand press to his left side where a dark pool of red began to bloom across his sweater. No doubt underneath his skin would burning and blistering painfully around the stab wound. A common reaction when his kind were stabbed with a silver knife.
Anthony's eyes darting to the slim silver dagger Kate gripped tightly in her hand causing him to grimace through a smile.
“Aren't young women suppose to carry pepper spray nowadays?” Anthony said while wincing in pain.
“I have that too,” Kate warned him. “But I know your kind have a bigger aversion to silver.”
Anthony smiled at her in a way that he almost seemed proud, which unnerved her more than anything.
“I'd expect nothing less from a Sheffield witch.”
“Its Sharma,” Kate firmly corrected.
Clouds passed over the moon turning everything black. Kate could now see how his dark eyes glinted in an unnatural way. Another sign of his inhumanity she should of noticed if she hadn't gotten so swept up in her liking to him. But she couldn't dwell on that for too long. Because Anthony had also started to stand back up to full height, and no longer in visible pain. A quicker recovery time she would have liked and proof that he was very old, perhaps even ancient.
Which did not bode well for Kate if she wanted to get out of here alive.
“I feel like we've gotten off on the wrong foot,” Anthony inclined his head, watching and calculating, but didn't move any closer. Not that Kate found comfort in knowing that he could move faster than the human eye could track.
“I sought you out for a reason. And I need to-”
Anthony didn't finish that thought but turned his head to where a group of drunken pub goers had stumbled into the street. Even in their inneberiated state they would notice Anthony bleeding from his side and Kate standing by holding a knife.
Kate took his momentary distraction for what it was, her only chance of escape. She turned on heel and ran as fast as she could. She darted out to cross the street, for a split second blinded by lights of a passing car that nearly hit her. But Kate ignored the angry shouts of the driver and kept on running. Her legs strained, and her lungs burned but she kept pushing herself.
The door to her building in sight but to her felt miles away. No one could out run the creature chasing her but Kate wasn't about to make herself easy prey.
Miraculously she reached her door, her shaking hands desperately trying to fish out her keys as she cursed under her breath to go faster. With her house key finally slotted in she chanced a moment to look over her shoulder, already fearing what she would see.
Instead of Anthony directly behind her giving chase she saw nothing but a quiet and empty street.
Harshly turning the key Kate pushed through the door and slammed it behind her.
Not giving herself a moment to rest Kate ran up the flight of stairs. She nearly fell over only catching herself on the stair banister several times. When she reached her floor panic and adrenaline pushing forward as though Anthony were directly behind her.
She slammed her apartment door behind her and nearly collapsed against it. Her legs weak and ready to give out at any moment. Kate kept drawing in gulping breaths, her her lungs continued to burn, her heart beating rapidly in her chest.
“Kate? Whats going on, are you okay?”
Edwina appeared from the sitting room entrance, already dressed in her fleece pyjamas and hair piled up in a messy bun. Her brown eyes looking at her wide with concern. Kate had no doubt she must look a fright, shaking and barely able to hold herself upright.
Before she could draw enough breath in to speak a loud knock come at the door.
Kate pushed herself off the door as if the door itself burned her. Her steps stumbling but thankfully Edwina appeared in time to grab Kate's arm to hold her steady. Even with the familiar warmth of her sister's hold a cold chill went through Kate's body. Because she knew who would be standing on the other side of the door waiting for her.
“Go away,” Kate called out wishing her voice sounded stronger and less raspy, “We want nothing to do with your kind here.”
There was a pause until a voice spoke from the other side of the door.
“I feel you might be misunderstanding my intentions.”
To her annoyance Anthony's voice sounded unruffled and calm, unlike her who was still gasping for air. But she also felt an anger rise up in her. For a brief moment her fears pushed aside by white hot righteousness.
“Oh? So that wasn't you attempting to feed on me ten minutes ago?” Kate demanded.
Anthony had the audacity to sigh like she was an unreasonable child throwing a tantrum.
“I admit I got carried away,” He spoke in a voice meant to soothe but it had the opposite effect on Kate. “But I promise you were never in any real danger.”
“Like I believe that for a second,” Kate snorted in disbelief.
Kate felt Edwina's hand tighten and pull at her arm. She turned to look at her sister who's face filled with fear.
“Kate should we put up a protection spell?” Edwina harshly whispered to her.
“There's no need,” Kate couldn't keep the gloating tone out of her voice. “He can't come in without an invitation.”
“Not that I would break down a young woman's door,” He sounded genuinely offended at the idea.
“No but you'll chase a young woman to her door,” Kate countered.
Another one of his vexed sighs and Kate found herself rather enjoying getting that reaction out of him.
“We're arguing in circles here,” His voice sounded tired now. “I know you don't believe I never meant you any harm.”
Kate made a noise of agreement that sound more like scoff but he pressed forward.
“...But its true. In fact I'd come to ask you a favor.”
“You flirt and snog with every witch you ask favors from?” Kate narrowed her eyes in suspecion while ignoring Edwina's scandalized gasp.
“No you're right, not typically,” He admitted. “I guess you could say that you bewitched me.”
Kate rolled her eyes at that. Of course she'd cross paths with a vampire who made dad jokes.
“Flattery will get you nowhere,” Kate scowled at the door even though he couldn't see her. “Especially from an unnatural creature like you.”
“You didn't seem to mind my flattery moments before,” Anthony replied, his voice smooth and heavily suggestive. A spike of heat cut through Kate's body where she could still feel the ghost of his touch. She hated despite knowing his true nature he could still get that reaction out of her. Even worse is the wide eyed look of incredelousness from Edwina who whipped her head between Kate and the closed door.
When Kate refused to rise to his latest bait, or more truthfully Kate feared she might let something slip, silence stretched out between them.
“I see we've reached an impasse tonight,” Anthony's voice carried through the closed door. “I'll leave now and come back another night.”
“Is that a threat?” Kate raised her voice angirly.
“More like a promise.”
Then he was gone.
Kate couldn't explain it, but even with the door closed she knew Anthony no longer stood on the other side of it. Stranger still she felt a sort of loss with him being gone.
“Kate,” Edwina whispered fearfully beside her. “What are we going to do?”
“I don't know,” Kate said truthfully, having never dealt with a vampire before, “But I'll figure it out.”
Kate tried to make her voice sound confident but the flurry of butterflies in her stomach at the thought of seeing Anthony again gave her doubts.